After years without professional hockey in Hamilton, the city is preparing to welcome the sport back as the Hamilton Hammers host the Toronto Marlies on Friday evening at TD Coliseum. The match marks the team’s first regular-season home game during its inaugural season, with the puck scheduled to drop at 7 p.m.
For 26-year-old defenceman Brandon Scanlin, the occasion holds special personal significance. Raised in Hamilton’s West Mountain neighbourhood, he attended Westmount Secondary School and played minor hockey locally. Returning to represent his hometown as a professional player is a proud moment for him.
Scanlin said his family was delighted when he shared the news that he would be playing professionally in Hamilton. He recalled that his mother was so emotional that she nearly began crying.
The home opener will allow his relatives and friends, who have supported him throughout his career, to watch him play professionally in their own city. Scanlin has also introduced his teammates to some of Hamilton’s popular dining spots, including Plank Restobar, The Mule and Chicago Style Pizza on the Mountain.
However, he considers the opportunity to play in a city with such a strong hockey culture the most rewarding aspect of his return. Hamilton previously hosted the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, who won the Calder Cup in 2007, before the city became home to an Ontario Hockey League franchise.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE